Tuesday, January 27, 2015

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FOOD!

…..Surely you know that. Basically it’s the proverbial breaking of bread. The gathering together….the joy of sharing this life, these times with friends. Coming together to share a meal is really about sharing one’s life…..catching up……remembering joys, comforting sorrows, talking thru those troubling situations or laughing over delightful ones. Whatever it is, the food is incidental but why not have it be the best so we can add another joyful experience to our memory bank. That’s what brings me joy…..and lots of it!

See what I mean?

This happened with the awesome Tina Marie who suggested The Tavern in Brentwood.

Here we go…...

Lovely Tina ordered the soft scrambled…...

I had to go for the Eggs Benedict which were the very best eggs ever….by far….

It’s interesting….here and in my last blog, no one has noticed I’m wearing exactly the same thing in every photo. Makes life sooooo easy!

Lets talk about these dates wrapped with bacon, bacon, bacon and stuffed with parmesan. They were eyes roll back in the head good…..

We stayed so long we closed the place down and even the valet left! Now that tells you it’s not about the food!!!

Here’s a cute pup we saw along the way….

When I got home, this exquisite creation by Amy at www.menuahflowers.com greeted me. Amy is one of the vendors at the Castaway Restaurant/facility in the Burbank Hills. From time to time they have expositions showing various items for prospective brides to choose for their weddings. This was one of the pieces Amy had on display and lucky me got to receive it after the event! I know….it’s breathtaking! Call Amy at 818.625.5243

If I want to share precious time, feel wrapped up in love who’s the go to lovely one for that???? You know it’s Sweetest of the Sweet, gifted, loving Amy! We shared lunch and our hearts at Recess Eatery on Brand. Amy is as bad as Tomiko when it comes to having her picture taken and this one is priceless!

O.K., we’ll get serious…..

But why???…..(Chef Sevan is in the background)

The best ever carrot soup!

I always love their Ahi Tuna salad…...

Time to be bad…..This went so well with the ‘all foam’ cappuccino!!

The food was really sensational but it really took a distant second to the time I was able to spend with Amy!

A good example of the food not being #1 in importance was dinner with Laurie Pie at PF Chang’s.

I don’t think we even noticed the food talking about new projects for Laurie’s www.imdev.com and www.laurieburton.com. Japan got in there too!

O.K., here’s some food.

….and there was something else….

We both wanted to see Theory of Everything and it was at the AMC 8 inside the Burbank Mall. It was a dark & stormy nigh so thanks Pie for driving over.

Wishing you blue skies and smooth sailing and most of all, special times with special people!

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Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.

Welcome! Here we'll be talking about Brush Painting and living joyfully! My website (nanrae.com) has complete examples of my work. I have been an artist since childhood. I have introduced and taught thousands Chinese Brush Painting in my Studio, the Huntington Library, Otis and other locations. My work is reproduced on Greeting Cards in the USA and all over Europe and Australia by Ling Design in England. It is wonderful being able to do the thing you love and to share it with others.